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Our Team

The Prolegis team work exclusively in the charity, not-for-profit and philanthropy sector

Our lawyers are dedicated to helping charities, not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises meet their legal needs efficiently, effectively and in a manner that enables them to accelerate their impact.

She has also had 30 years' experience in governance of not-for-profit organisations, including as director and board chair of several significant and well-known charities, including Australia’s largest international aid and development organisation.

Anne was Deputy Chair of the Not-for-Profit Sector Reform Council and a member of the NFP Tax Concession Working Group between 2008 and 2013. Anne is currently a member of the Australian Taxation Office Not-for-Profit Stewardship Group, a member of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Professional Users Group and Chair of the Charity Law Association of Australia and New Zealand.

Anne holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from Macquarie University.

Jon Cheung

Jon specialises in protecting the interests of charities and not-for-profits through his work in the areas of governance, operational and contractual arrangements, and dispute resolution.

Jon is an experienced lawyer with a background in corporate and commercial law. He has advised charities, not-for-profits and philanthropists across the sector, over a range of governance and operational areas including corporate and project governance, director and trustee duties, indemnities, health record privacy, tax exemptions, organisational structures, risk assessments, contractual arrangements, disputes and reviews including sponsorships, projects, fundraising, collections and finance. He has provided advice to all organisational levels including to program managers, senior executives, CEO and boards.

With a special interest in cross-cultural issues, Jon previously worked in an aid and development organisation in Mpumalanga, South Africa operating in communities across the region of Southern Africa suffering from the effects of AIDS/HIV.

Jon holds a Bachelor of Medical Science and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Technology, Sydney and a Master of Laws from the University of Sydney with a focus on international law and development. He is a member of the Charity Law Association of Australia and New Zealand, a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and currently serves as board chair of an international aid and development organisation.

Seak-King Huang

Seak-King has expertise ranging across the governance, regulation, funding and projects as well as the business operations typical of charities and not-for-profits.

Seak-King has over 25 years’ experience as a lawyer. Prior to joining Prolegis Lawyers, Seak-King was General Counsel and Company Secretary of World Vision Australia and before that, a partner with a major commercial firm.

She brings to Prolegis expertise in governance and the functioning of Boards, charity status and tax endorsements and funding relationships (ranging from grants from governments, multilateral organisations and other bodies, general public and philanthropic donations and partnerships, and the newer models for financing social good). She is also experienced with project implementation, including unique ones involving social enterprise and the commercialisation of sustainable activities. Seak-King also brings substantial experience with the range of commercial service relationships and contracts typical for charities and not-for-profits.

Seak-King is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is currently on the Boards of Light Melbourne and Anglican Overseas Aid.

John King

John joined Prolegis Lawyers as a consultant in September 2011 after 31 years as a Tax Partner at Mallesons.

After joining Mallesons Stephen Jaques in 1972, John became a tax partner in the firm in 1979 and remained in this position until his retirement on 31 December 2010 when he joined Prolegis as a consultant

From 1986-88 he was the resident partner in the firm’s then representative office in New York. During his 31 years as a tax partner at Mallesons, John's practice focused mostly on domestic and cross-border financial services and capital markets transactions and products, inbound and outbound investment, and trusts and partnerships. On many occasions he successfully lobbied the federal Government, Treasury and Parliament to have pending or existing tax legislation amended.

Throughout John's professional career, and especially over the last decade, he also advised on complex tax and related issues affecting charities, universities, cultural bodies, sporting clubs, other not-for-profit entities (amongst them, some iconic NSW institutions) and the philanthropic sector generally.

John holds a Bachelor of Arts Law (Hons) from the University of Sydney and a Master of Laws from the London School of Economics.

Peter has a particular interest and expertise in developing fit-for-purpose human resources management systems and procedures that enable organisations to minimise risks in people-related matters. He also brings considerable experience in helping organisations undertaking significant change.

Peter is a trusted adviser on people-related issues in not-for-profit entities. He has served on the board of a not-for-profit entity engaged in community development work in Western Uganda and is a member of a group that trains and equips church leaders in Vanuatu.

Peter has a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Law from the University of New South Wales. He is also a Chartered Member of the Australian Human Resources Institute, has been an accredited Workplace Mediator and holds a Graduate Diploma in Christian Counselling.

Prior to joining Prolegis, Tina worked at a major Australian law firm, first in the property team advising on real estate development matters including acquisition of property, property finance law and hotel and tourism law, and later in corporate law as a member of the merger and acquisitions team. As a senior practitioner, she advised on legal issues affecting the firm and its associated entities, particularly in the areas of contract and commercial law.

Before she began practicing law, Tina managed operations in large city hotels and provided hospitality real estate consulting services including market feasibility studies and appraisals for hotels and other real estate assets.

Tina is on the board of an independent girls’ school in Sydney and a charity providing services to people with mental disabilities.

Tina holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the University of Sydney and a Bachelor of Science in undergraduate business studies from Cornell University focussed on the hotel and tourism industry.

Since joining Prolegis Lawyers in 2009, he has advised on establishment, corporate and tax structuring, and legal compliance relating to charities, not-for-profits and philanthropic foundations. In particular, he specialises in advising charities and philanthropic foundations on obtaining charity registration, deductible gift recipient status, stamp duty exemptions and fundraising approvals.

He is a member of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Professional Users Group.

Jae was previously the writer of a regular legal column in a prominent publication in the Australian community and has been the speaker at several legal seminars.

He is currently the company secretary of the Charity Law Association of Australia and New Zealand and is a director of an Australian charity carrying out community work in Asia.

Jae has also worked in the Republic of Korea translating foreign legislation and legal journals, and served as an English-Korean interpreter in the Korean military.

Jae holds a Bachelor of Law degree from Queensland University of Technology, a Bachelor of Theology from Wesley Institute (Sydney College of Divinity) and a Master of Arts in Theology from the University of Queensland.

Danielle began her legal career at a major Sydney legal practice, completing the graduate rotation program in the Commercial Disputes/Insurance Group and Workplace Relations and Safety Group. She was admitted in 2010, and holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws with first class honours from the University of Sydney.

Gabrielle Pither

Gabrielle has extensive experience advising on a range of corporate and commercial transactions. She is also particularly interested in assisting clients achieve effective corporate governance arrangements.

Gabrielle has more than 17 years experience as a solicitor, advising clients on a range of corporate and commercial matters. As well as working in a leading top-tier firm in Australia and the UK, Gabrielle has also spent time as in-house legal counsel in a major bank in Australia.

Gabrielle has a particular interest in, and extensive experience advising clients on, enhancing corporate governance. She has also acted in relation to large and small corporate reconstructions, mergers, acquisitions and dispute resolution matters.

Gabrielle holds a Bachelors degree of Commerce and Law from the University of NSW. Her volunteering and community work includes performing a supervisory role in a Homeless Persons Legal Clinic, overseeing a group of junior solicitors.

Mary Sheargold

Mary advises clients on all manner of consumer law and regulatory issues, and also brings significant experience in intellectual property law.

Mary is an experienced and sought-after commercial lawyer with a passionate interest in the arts, education, and the not-for-profit sector.

Mary advises clients on all manner of consumer law and regulatory issues from advertising and marketing compliance through to major product liability litigation. Mary joined Prolegis in 2016 after a career at a major Australian legal practice and with a boutique Melbourne practice.

Mary also has expertise in trademarks, copyright and related rights (including confidentiality agreements, passing off, and misleading or deceptive conduct issues) and has gained considerable experience in these areas both in legal practice and through her postgraduate study. Her Master of Laws degree complements her practical experience, providing expertise in intellectual property and regulatory compliance issues.

Emma Hodgson

Emma has extensive experience advising corporate, private and government clients on a broad range of real estate matters, including acquisition and disposals, due diligence and the property aspects of M&A activity.

Emma joined Prolegis Lawyers in 2017. Prior to joining Prolegis, Emma worked in the corporate real estate groups at leading top tier law firms in both Sydney and London and at a boutique law firm in Sydney. Emma has extensive experience advising corporate, private and government clients on a broad range of real estate matters including acquisitions and disposals of commercial, industrial, retail and residential properties, the property aspects of corporate mergers and acquisitions, leasing negotiations, purchaser and vendor due diligence investigations and other general commercial and property matters.

Emma has a special interest in disability issues having acted as principal solicitor of the Disability Discrimination Legal Centre in Kingsford and as a volunteer for Association for Children with a Disability NSW.

Emma was admitted as a solicitor in 2000 and holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Sydney. She is a member of the Charity Law Association of Australia and New Zealand.

Luke Hall

Luke has experience working in a wide range of commercial matters, including charity establishment and governance issues in the not-for-profits sector, corporate restructures, advising on tax concessions and deductible gift recipient (DGR) endorsement.

Luke has worked in government, not-for-profit and charity sectors since 2003, including managing a religious charity for five years. He is a Presbyterian church elder and serves on the Church's Committee of Management (as Secretary and Treasurer). Luke is also a Council member of independent schools in Sydney and Armidale.

Luke was admitted in 2006, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws with honours from the University of Sydney.

Prior to joining Prolegis Lawyers, Grace worked at a major Australian law firm in Melbourne. She has also worked overseas, including working for the United Nations Khmer Rouge Tribunal and International Labour Organisation in Cambodia.

With a strong interest in the work of organisations in the charity and not-for-profit sector, Grace is committed to providing high quality legal advice to help further their goals.

Grace holds a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology, Criminology) and a Juris Doctor, both from the University of Melbourne.